1. GT Parent Meeting
Windcrest, Montgomery, and Royal Ridge
GT Teacher
Mrs. Rachel Conger
Oct. 4, 2012

2. Depth & Complexity Icons
Based upon the work of Sandra Kaplan, USC

3. Some Characteristics of Gifted Children……
Gets excitement from intellectual challenge
Have an intense awareness of the world’s
problems
Have an advanced vocabulary (may be an
avid reader)
Has difficulty focusing on or finishing
assignments; may seem disorganized
Is sensitive, empathetic, and emotional
Gets bored and frustrated, wants to move
on quickly to more interesting work
Shows outstanding responsibility and
independence

4. Shows superior reasoning powers and can see
subtle relationships, abstract thinker
Shows persistent intellectual curiosity
Develops one or more interests to considerable
depth
Observes keenly; is responsive to new ideas
Learns quickly and easily and retains what is
learned
Shows creative ability or imaginative expression
Is self-critical, a perfectionist
Communicates easily with adults (not always
peers)
What do you notice?
Does anything surprise you?

5. Our goal is to teach the children to be….
•Critical thinkers
•Creative problem solvers
•Dynamic leaders and effective
members of the group

6. We promote higher order thinking skills through…
•Critical thinking practice
•Creative thinking practice
•Problem solving
•Research/inquiry
•Use of technology
•Affective thinking activities
•Decision-making
•Taking on leadership roles

7. • Recognizing connections between
ideas, people, and events impacts one’s
perspective and deepens one’s
understanding of the world.
(Systems Thinking)
• Personal vision leads to choices that
can make a difference in the world.

8. GT Class Schedule
2nd: 9:45-12:45 (Monday)
3rd: 9:45-1:45 (Thursday)
4th: 9:00-2:00 (Wednesday)
5th: 9:00-2:00 (Tuesday)
All classes have lunch/recess with our
GT Class. Lunch time is 11:08.

9. Our goal is to develop each child’s cognitive ability
through activities based on four types of thinking:
•Convergent (logic/reasoning)
•Divergent (creative/inventive)
•Visual/Spatial (shapes/puzzles)
•Evaluative (judging/planning)
UNIT OF STUDY- Structure
•Natural Structures (Biomimicry)
•Human-made Structures-Talking Walls
(inspired by the book Talking Walls by Margy Burns
Knight)

10. Becoming a Thinker
What can I use as a guide to fulfill my potential?
Systems/Systems Thinking
-Bridges
-The Brain
- How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci
Literature Studies: Punished by David Lubar
Billabonk and the Thorn Patch and other Systems Thinking
stories.
Hands-On Equations: Level I

11. Developing Talents
What are my gifts and talents? What can
I do that will have meaning in the future?
Mysteries/ Masterpieces-“Mystery of Me!”
Multiple Intelligences (Gardner)
“It’s not how smart you are, it’s how you are smart.”
Novel Study: Tuck Everlasting/ Wednesday Wars**
Hands On Equations Level II

12. What
responsibilities
do I have to the
Discovering world around
me?
Responsibilities
Dimensions of Character
•Eminence
(Lives of Believers and Achievers)
•Influential Scientists and Mathematicians.
•Philosophy- Socrates, Plato
Hands On Equations Level III
Novel Study: The Giver

13. •A student completing the 5th grade GT
program should be:
•A self-directed learner
•An effective communicator
•A contributing citizen
•A collaborative team member
•An adaptive problem solver
•A perceptive thinker
•A quality producer

14. •GT Learning Logs
•Rubrics
•Student Self-Evaluation
•Student Report Cards
December
May

15. Special Issues:
Homework Policy
Field Trips
Absences/Attendance
GT Bus Conflicts

16. The K-2 Program ends after 2 nd grade. All
students must be re-assessed at the
beginning of third grade for the GT 3-5
program. Classroom performance, test
scores, and reading averages are used to
screen for testing. Not all second grade
GT students will continue in the GT
program.

17. Students entering GT in grades 3-5 remain part of the
program until the end of 5th grade.
Testing in the spring of 5th grade for Middle School:
•GT English
•GT Math
For capable students looking for challenge!
Students must maintain an “80” semester and year
end grade average to remain in the GT program.

18. Ways to help your GT child
 Feed that hungry mind. (Museums, Libraries- Molly Pruitt @
Roosevelt!)
 Be a learner yourself.
 Keep track of your child’s school performance and progress.
 Encourage and support your child’s creativity.
 Respond to your child’s questions.
 Create a safe environment for failure. Give them permission to
make some mistakes and learn from them.
 Praise your child for taking risks, even when things don’t turn out
the way he/she planned. Look for science, art, or music classes in
the community.
 Help your child find a mentor—a caring adult or teenager who will
guide and encourage him.
 Tell them specific things you like and admire about him/her. Go
beyond school performance.
 Treat your GT child with respect by listening to them.
 Pay attention to your child’s passions. Support and encourage.
 Help your child find balance in life
 Get your child involved in activities and programs.

20. Communication is key to your child’s
success.
You may always contact me…
•By note written in folder
•By phone 407-9600 (at Windcrest)
•By e-mail rconge@neisd.net
“Education is not the filling of a
bucket, but the lighting of a fire.”
-William Butler Yeats.